News
DWP Supplier Engagement Day
25 May 2012
The Department has invited some of its key suppliers to meet with commercial senior managers and key business stakeholders to share information and ideas at a supplier engagement day on 25 May.
Over the past year, DWP as an organisation has proved that working in partnership with key suppliers creates mutual benefits whilst also enhancing the reputations of both organisations. We want to recognise those suppliers who have worked with us during times of austerity to deliver our business either through improved services or innovation.
A feature of the day will be the second ‘Supplier Excellence Awards’. These look to reward the best suppliers from all sections of the economy by acknowledging collaboration and excellence in the delivery of critical services.
To build on the successes of 2011/12 we have invited Robert Devereaux, Permanent Secretary DWP, Ann Pedder Foreign & Commonwealth Office Commercial Director & Crown Representative and Alan Cave, DWP Director of Contracted Customer Services to set out the future challenges and promote an even greater need for innovation and partnership working in the supply chain.
This event is an opportunity to proactively engage with our suppliers to ensure they understand our business objectives and policies, and to acknowledge their contribution to the delivery of some of our key programmes.
The outcomes of the awards will be published at the beginning of June.
A4e Welfare to Work Provider and contracts with DWP
16 May 2012
In March this year, against a backdrop of public commentary on A4e, the Department was made aware of an allegation concerning A4e’s Mandatory Work Activity contract.
In light of this allegation the Department announced it would audit its commercial relationships with A4e. The Department’s Internal Audit and Investigations team undertook this audit, supported by Ernst and Young, and examined the controls operated by A4e on all its current contracts with DWP.
The audits for the Work Programme, New Enterprise Allowance and Mandatory Work Activity are now complete. They have found no evidence of fraud in any of these contracts.
However, whilst the audit found no evidence of fraud, it did identify significant weaknesses in A4e’s internal controls on the Mandatory Work Activity contract in the South East.
The process established prior to March fell significantly short of our expectations. As a result, the Department has concluded that continuing with this contract presents too great a risk, and we have terminated the Mandatory Work Activity contract with A4e for the South East.
The aim is to appoint a new provider through a fresh competition and, in the meantime, contingency plans are in place to ensure continuity of support for participants in the Mandatory Work Activity programme.
We have written to all our Welfare to Work providers reminding them that the Department requires the highest standards of governance in relation to all its Welfare to Work contracts and reminding them of their obligations and our requirements in this regard.
